Angel’s Rock Report–Newsted, Cornell, Bush [AUDIO]

Just a day after the news that Lars from Metallica had settled a lawsuit brought against him by his former personal assistant, Steven Wiig, comes word that Wiig is now the drummer in a band led by none other than former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.

Blabbermouth describes the group, Papa Wheelie, as a "stoner punk metal" power trio with Wiig being joined by Newsted on guitar and vocals and Joe Ledesma, a mountain biking friend of Newsted's, on bass. Their premise is reportedly to remain spontaneous and unscripted and never play anything the same way twice.  I like!

AC/DC have yet to make their music available for download, but they're not TOTAL digital retards. They've just introduced the AC/DC Pinball Rocks app for the iPad and iPhone.

Despite the laryngitis problems that cut short the last U.S. leg of his solo acoustic Songbook tour, Chris Cornell seems to be loving the format. He tells Billboard.com that he's blown away by audiences' willingness "to sit and listen to a guy singing a song and playing acoustic guitar quietly, and not make a sound."

Cornell released the second four-song EP from Songbook yesterday, while the full 15-track album hits stores Monday. Both EPs are currently streaming at Billboard.com. He kicks off another U.S. tour leg tomorrow in Albany, New York.

Bush will kick off the second season of Guitar Center Sessions on Direct TV's Audience Network (channel 239) this Saturday. An exclusive clip of the band playing "The Chemicals Between Us" from the episode was posted yesterday at GuitarCenter.com/sessions/. Among the other songs Bush performs are their current single, "The Sound of Winter," and the classic hit "Little Things."

Foo Fighters and Joan Jett were called in as late replacements for Tony Bennett as the musical guests on last night's David Letterman. As they did during the encore of their show Sunday at Madison Square Garden, the Foos backed Jett on a version of her hit "Bad Reputation."

Sevendust will be streaming their December 10th concert at The Rave in Milwaukee free of charge. They'll announce the specific time soon.